Photo: tinymixtapes.net

If you’ve been rocking with me for a while (first of all, thank you) you know that growing up, my mom played a huge part in my music taste. One of my mom’s favorite artists is Alicia Keys. I don’t remember a ton of the music my mom used to play, but I remember Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye and Alicia Keys. Her debut, Songs In A Minor, was in rotation for years, and her sophomore effort, The Diary of Alicia Keys, was even more so. I adored Alicia Keys because not only was she a powerful singer, but she produced a lot of her own music by playing the piano. As I grew up, I checked for Alicia Keys here and there. But aside from her first two releases, she wasn’t always on repeat. However, after hearing her 6th studio album, Here, I think this is one all of us will be playing for years to come. 

This is yet another record that flew under the radar for me, I didn’t hear about any of the singles, didn’t peep the tracklist, so I didn’t really know what I was going to get. But Alicia Keys joins the ranks of Solange, Beyonce, NoName, Common and more in the joint effort of releasing albums pertinent to the social climate we’re currently in. Here comes in around 45 minutes, 11 tracks with multiple interludes that bring the album together. Alicia Keys splashes onto the scene with “The Gospel," and this piqued my interest off top. The piano commands your attention, as do Keys’ vocals. Her lyrics are filled with honesty, no matter how dark. But what I love about this track is her confidence in us as a people. She’s here to inspire us. I said it with Common’s record, and I believe the same is true here. Lines like “Life seems hard but nothin’ ever comes easy/Whatever’s in the dark, can always become the light/If you ain’t in a battle, how you gon’ win the fight” is a call to action to the listener. Alicia Keys didn’t just put together the best songs created during a certain time and give it to us, this album was a calculated artistic effort meant to send a message. 

Like I said before, Alicia Keys is here to inspire and motivate us, but she doesn’t hold back the issues our society has. “Illusion of Bliss” was a track I didn’t expect to hear from Keys that covers addiction. Not just addiction in terms of drugs, but addiction to drama, sex, attention whatever our vice is, Keys’ references them as an Illusion of Bliss. In this track, she plays the role of a woman who’s dealing with this. I love this because she’s not pointing fingers, in taking the role she sympathizes with the character and us. This track comes right at the middle of the LP, and I think it provides the transition from some of the darkness in the beginning of the record to the hope and confidence she tries to instill in the rest of the album. 

I really feel like Alicia Keys is in her element with Here. The production fits her, and her ability to adapt and adjust her voice makes this a diverse listen. The production handled by Keys, Swizz Beats and others don’t pigeonhole any sounds on this record. One minute you’re listening to the upbeat marching vibe from “The Gospel,” next minute you’re listening to the acoustic guitar-backed “Kill Your Mama” that speaks on our killing of the environment we’ve been blessed with. Keys pulled all the stops to really showcase her talent on this album, and the production accompanied with it made it that much more immersive. 

In talking about this album to others, some were weary, saying that Keys jumped on the same bandwagon as Solange, Common and the like. I couldn’t disagree more, I do think that the “wave” of conscious music is out there, but that Keys isn’t fitting a mold. You can hear the integrity in her voice. It’s easy to judge at a surface level, but dig deep and you’ll find a woman concerned for her people and concerned for her planet. I’m glad I took the time to sit down and listen to this. With where we’ve been this year, it’s easy to overlook this album. But Alicia Keys made Here for us. 


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